Report: Atlanta Hawks in ‘pole position’ to sign Danilo Gallinari and Rajon Rondo

With the 2020-21 NBA season set to get underway next month, teams around the league are moving fast and furious ahead of the window in which trades can be made and free agents can be signed.

Rajon Rondo and Danilo Gallinari are two veteran free agents that teams will be in hot pursuit of when free agency begins. It appears the Atlanta Hawks may have the edge in signing both players.

Rondo made things interesting after declining his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers to pursue a lucrative deal in free agency. Many expected him to return to the championship team in Los Angeles, but he appears to value a bigger salary moving forward.

As for Gallinari, the Oklahoma City Thunder are seemingly starting from scratch and no longer value veterans like the Italian forward.

The Thunder recently agreed to trade Dennis Schroder to the Lakers and Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns, showing that they are truly in rebuilding mode. Gallinari may be the next veteran to leave town.

As Marc Stein pointed out, the Los Angeles Clippers also have interest in Rondo. It may come down to a two-team race for Rondo, with the Lakers seemingly moving on with Schroder now headed for Los Angeles.